Pneumatic cash-carrier apparatus



W. S. PAIN & W. A. WEBBER.

PNEUMATIC CASH CARRIER APPARATUS. No. 395,293.

(No Model.)

Patented Dec. 25, 1888.

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UNiTED States Patent @rricn.

WILLARD S. PAIN, OF CAMBRIDGE, AND WVILLIAM A. IVEBBER, OF MEDFORD MASSACHUSETTS.

PNEUMATIC GASH-CARRIER APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,293, dated December 25, 1888.

Application filed May 13, 1887. Serial No. 238,125. (No model.) Patented in England A t 2, 1887, Nos. 10,632 and 10,634.

[ aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, \VILLARD S. Pam and WILLIAM A. WEBBER, respectively oi": (Janr bridge and Medford, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Cash-Carrier Apparatus, (and for which Letters Patent were granted in England as follows, Nos. 10,632 and 10,634, An-

gust 2, 1887,) of which the following is a full,

clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic cash-carrier apparatus in which a carrier or other article is transmitted through a pneumatic tube; and its object is to automatically cause the release or opening of the valve at the receiving end of the pneumatic tube, where the carrier or other article is inserted for transmission therethrough, when the carrier or other article arrives at or passes by some desired point in the pneumatic tube at or near the delivery end or is discharged at such delivery end; and the invention consists in the combination, with a pneumatic tube 2 5 for the transmission of a carrier or other artiele therethrough, of an independent or supplementary tube or passage provided with a suitable valve to open and close said inde pendent tube to the passage of air therefrom,

and having communication at or near the re eeiving end of the pneumatic tube, where the carrier or other article is inserted for trans- .mission therethrough,witha suitable bellows or expansible and collapsible chamber provided with a suitable valve and having communieation with an operating-bellows or other air-motor, and arranged to fasten or secure the valve at the receiving end of the pneumatic tube in its closed position, the valve in the independent tube or passage projecting into the pneumatic tube sufiiciently for the carrier or other article being transmitted therethrough, as it passes by the point or place where said valve is located, to operate on said 4 5 valve and move or open it, so that air can pass through or from said independent or supplementary tube for the proper operation or movement of the bellows or expansible or collapsible chamber to unlock or release said fastening to the valve at the receiving end of the pneumatic tube, all substantially as hereinafter fully described; and the invention also consists of the construction and arrangement of other parts in connectiontherewith for the proper operation of the invention, all sub- 5 5 stantially as hereinafter described.

In the drawings is represented a pneumatic tube arranged for the transmission therethrough of a carrier or other article both ways and having the present invention applied thereto.

Figure 1 represents such pneumatic tube and its connections in side view. Fig. 2 is a detail side view of the receiving end of the pneumatic tube with parts of the present invention applied thereto similar to Fig. 1, but with such parts in different positions; Fig. 3,

a detail side view of the receiving end of Fig.

1, but at right angles to Fig. 1; Figs. 4. and 5, detail vertical cross-sections of the pneumatic 7o tube and the valve operated by the carrier or other article; Figs. 6 and '7, detail vertical sections of the bellows or expansible and collapsible chamber and its connections; Figs.

8, 9, 10, and 11., detail, side, and sectional views of parts to be hereinafter referred to. Figs. 4 to 11, inclusive, are enlarged.

In the drawings, A represents a pneumatic tube for the transmission of a cash-carrier or other article therethrough, having communi- 8o cation at each end with a head, B, of a separate standard, (3, each of which standards is secured to any suitable table or support and has communication with a suitable bellows or other air-motor, D, each head B having an opening, E, through which the carrier or other article is inserted in the tube A for its transmission therethrough, and which is arranged to be closed and opened by a valve, F, hinged at a to the standard, all substantially usual, 0 and needing no more particular description herein.

G is an independent or supplementary tube or passage, at one end having communication with a chamber, H, of a vertical cylinder, J, near the receiving end, K, of the pneumatic tube, and by its other end with the chamber L of a horizontal cylinder, M, secured in any suitable manner to the pneumatic tube at I), or at any desired point or place on the pneu- 10o matic tube or near the delivery end of said tube.

The horizontal chamber L has a valve, N, arranged to freely slide back and forth therein, which valve has a transverse passage, d, through it, which when the valve is moved back, as shown in cross-section in Fig. 5, is coincident with the tube G, and an opening, f, in the cylinder M to the outside, by which air can freely pass from the tube G out at the opening f, but with the valve in the position shown in Fig. i, closing the tube to the passage of air therefrom. Attached to this valve N is a central longitudinal stem, P, having a head or button, Q, which when the valve is in its normal position (shown in Fig. 4) projects a slight distance into the pneumatic tube A, being held in such position by the spiral spring g-within the chamber L.

At the side of the vertical chamber H is a small bellows or expansible and collapsible chamber, R, having communication therewith by a passage, h, said chamber H communicating by a pipe, S, with a small bellows or expansible and collapsible chamber, T, which has communication by a pipe, on, with the operating-bellows D.

The valve F is arranged to be locked when closed by a hook or catch, U, pivoted at n to the head and engaging with a pin, 1, on the valve F, the other arm of the catch being pivoted at t to a pitman-rod, u, pivoted and con nected by its other end to the end of the movable board V of the bellows R, which movable board is held closed by a spring, 1:.

Moving or swinging the bellows-board R outward causes the hook or catch U to move away from and disengage with the valve F, as shown in Fig. 2, the valve then being free to fall by its own gravity and open the head for the reception or delivery of a carrier or other article.

In the vertical chamber H is a piston or valve, W, arranged to slide freely up and down therein, and when at its lowest or normal position, as shown in Fig. 6, to cover and close the passage h to the bellows R and the pipe S, leading to the small bellows T, and when in the position shown in Fig. 7 to uncover or open the passages h and S so that air can freely pass from the bellows D to the bellows or expansible and collapsible chamber R.

The gravity of the piston-valve is intended to be sufficient for it to return to its normal position, if it is otherwise free to fall after being moved up in said chamber; but to insure such movement a light spiral spring, to, is placed in the chamber II to act on said valve.

The operation of the apparatus is as fol lows: The carrier or other article having been placed through the opening E in the head B into the pneumatic tube A at the receiving end K, the valve F is closed, which is then locked by the catch U. The bellows D is then operated, which forces the carrier along the tube A toward and delivers it at the other end, Y, the valve F at such end being open. At the same time air passes from the bellows D through the pipe m into the small bellows T, expanding the same; but the pressure of air does not, however, raise the valve or piston WV, because the valve N is in position to close the tube G, preventing air passing out at the end f, as shown in Fig. 4; but as the carrier passes the head Q to the valve N it presses it outward, moving the valve N along its chamber L until its passage d is coincident with the independent tube G, as shown in Fig. 5, which allows escape of the air from such independent tube through the valve at the end f. The air thus having escape at the opening f allows the air from the operating bellows D to pass up the tube or pipe S- and raise the piston-valve V in the chamber H, as shown in Fig. 7, which allows the air to pass through the opening h into the bellows or expansible chamber R, opening or expanding it by moving out its movable board V, which through its pitman-rod a, connecting with the latch U, moves it into the position shown in Fig. 2 and releases the valve F from its connection therewith, which is then free to fall by its gravity and open the opening E to the head B at the receiving end K. Thus when the carrier or other article passes the point in the tube where the valve N is the valve F at the receiving end of the tube will be unlocked or released and placed in position for the insertion of another carrier or other article at such end.

The small bellows T is for the purpose of insuring air passing to the cylinder-chamber H if the operating-bellows should cease being operated before the carrier or other article arrives at'or passes by the valve N, for in such case,being full of air, it will, when the valve N is operated by the carrier or other article, begin to close, (a weight, y, attached to a cord, Z, running over the pulley a, and attached to the bellows T, effecting such closing movement) and in closing it will force sufficient air through the independent tube to operate the bellows R and release or unlock the valve F. A valve in the small bellows T prevents air passing back to the operating-bellows D in its closing movement.

In Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11 is shown a pneumatic tube, A, which, instead of extending upward from the table and thence to the other station, is arranged to go below the table and the floor of the room, the carrier passing downward, the opening E of the tube for the reception of the carrier being at its end and closed by the valve F, which is pivoted at Z) in said figures and adapted to be operated by a handle, B, on an extension of the shaft or pivot b of the valve. Pivoted on this shaft or pivot I) is another handle, 0, having an extension, cl, passing down through an opening in the table and connected by a pivot, f, to one end of a pitman-rod, D, connected by its other end to a crank-arm, E, of a valve,

F, pivoted at g to a suitable support, which valve is arranged to open and close the passage h, forming communication with the operating-bellows and the pneumatic tube. In the operation of this arrangement of the apparatus, when the valve F is closed. the other valve, F, is opened, and when the valves are in these positions the handles B C are together and in line with each other, as shown in Figs. 8 and 10, and in such position a projecting pin, m, on the handle G is disposed in a socket, n, in the other handle, B, which looks the two together and holds the valves in their respective positions until unlocked.

R is the small bellows or expansible and collapsible chamber, and its cylinder J is attached to the tube and communicates with the operating-bellows for operation, as shown in the other views- The arm (1 of the handle 0 is lengthened, as at 1", in position for the movable bellowsboard V when it opens to press against such extension and move it outward, as shown in Fig. 11, causing its handle C to spring or move away from the handle B and disenits pin m with the socket n in the handle B, which allows the spring .9, attached to the crank-handle E of the valve F, to act thereon and close such valve and correspond ingly open the valve F. Thus by this connection and arrangement of the two valves they can be operated by and from the carrier as it passes by and operates the valve N, as before described.

To return the handle 0 back into position if the valves are again operated by hand for them to engage or interlock with each other, a spring, t, attached to the tube A, connects with the arm (1.

Fig. 8 is a side view with the valve F closed and the valve F open, with the handles interloclae l; and Fig. 9 is a similar view, but with the valves respectively opened and closed.

Fig. 10 is a side view with the parts in the same position as in Fig. 8, the view being at right angles thereto; and Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but showing the bellows ll as operated and moving out the arm (1' and unlocking the handles B and O.

Any suitable bellows or expansible and collapsible chamber can be used, and it can be connected for operation to the operat-ingbellows or other ainmotor in any suitable man ner than as shown, and also any suitable piston-valve can be used for the valve \V.

The independent tube an d valve can be used to operate the bellows or expansible and col lapsible chamber as a signaling or indicating or sounding devieesuch as shown, for instance, in Figs. 1, 2, G, and 7 where a bell or gong, G, is attached to an arm, a, of the cylinder J, which is arranged to be operated by the tongue 11', pivoted at o to the tube G and operated by a vertical rod, 10', connected thereto and projecting down through an opening in the top of the cylinder J into its chamber H, for the piston or valve \V, as it is moved up by the air from the operatingbellows, to strike against its lower end and move it and the tongue up sufficiently for it to strike the bell or gong, as shown more particularly in Fig. 7. This invention, however, is intended more particularly to unlock or release the valve to the receiving end of the pneumatic tube.

The pitma-n-rod a can be dispensed with and the bellows B have a lock or catch attached directly thereto and the bellows located in suitable position for such. catch to engage with the valve to hold it inits closed position until released by the operation of the bellows, as described; also, the bellows T can be dispensed with and the bellows R communicate directly with the operating-bellows D; but it is preferable to use it for the purpose specified, although it can be arranged to close by other means than the weight and cord.

The fastening device or catch can be connected to the valve in the chamber H and the bellows R dispensed with; but it is better to use the bellows, as less power from the operating-bellows is required, as the area of the moving bellows-board is much greater than the area of the valve \V, which would otherwise have to be increased in size.

\Vhen using the pneumatic tube to transmit a carrier each. way, the supplementary tube, its valve, and other parts connected therewith for operation at each end would be duplicated.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is l. The combination, with a pneumatic tube for the transmission therethrough of a carrier or other article and an independent or supplementary tube or passage having a valve arranged to project into said pneumatic tube in position for the carrier or other article as it travels along said pneumatic tube to strike or abut against said valve to open it, of means arranged to be operated by air from. any suitable air-pressure apparatus to release or disengage the fastening to the valve at the receiving-opening of the pneumatic tube.

2. The combination, with a pneumatic tube for the transmission therethrough of a carrier or other article and an independent or supplementary tube or passage having a valve arranged to project into the pneumatic tube in position for the carrier or other article as it travels along said pneumatic tube to strike or abut against said valve to open it, of a bellows I or expansible and collapsible chamber having position for the carrier or other article as it travels along said pneumatic tube to strike or abut against said valve to open it, of a bellows or expansible and collapsible chamber having communication with said independent tube and a suitable operatingbellows or other airmotor, and a valve between said expansible and collapsible chamber and said operatingbellows or other air-motor said bellows or expan sible and collapsible chamber being arranged to be operated by air from said operating-bellows or air-motor to release or disengage the fastening to the valve at the receivin g-opening of the pneumatic tube.

4. The combination, with a pneumatic tube for the transmission therethrough of a carrier or other article and an independent or supplementary tube or passage having a valve arranged to project into the pneumatic tube in position for the carrier or other article as it travels along said pneumatic tube to strike or abut against said valve to open it, of a bellows or expansible and collapsible chamber having communication with said independent tube, and an intermediate bellows or collapsible and expansiblc chamber having communication with a suitable operating-bellows or other airmotor, said bellows or expansible and collapsible chamber being arranged to be operated by air from said operating-bellows or air-motor 30 to release or disengage the fastening to the valve at the receiving-opening of the pneumatic tube. I

5. The combination, with a pneumatic tube for the transmission therethrough of a carrier 3 or other article and an independent or supplementary tube or passage having a valve arranged to project into said pneumatic tube in position for the carrier or other article as it travels along said pneumatic tube to strike or 40 abut against said valve to open it, of means arranged to be operated by air from any suit able air-motor and connected to a sounding or signaling device for operation thereof.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set 45 

